Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-21
GOV. ROSS MESSAGE.
Continued from Third Page.

the importation of one infected COW
caused the destruction OF S400,000,000
worth of cattle to Australia in very
short time.
1t would be difficult to compute the loss
from the disastrous consequences which
would necessarily follow should there be
an outbreak Of this plague within the
borders of our state. The markets of the
world would at once be closed against our
stocK-raisers, land every neighboring state,
actuated by motives of self preservation,
would maintain rigid quarantine reguls-
tons against the egress of their stock,
which would inevitably accomplish the
bankruptcy and ruin of ell Of our resident
stock-raisers. | therefore invite your con-
sideratiOn to the importance OF enacting
q proper and wise quarantine law to
efectually protect our people from the
introduction of infected cattle. 1t is be-
Heved that such Law can be operated
with but little cost to the taxpayer.
INSURANCE, STATISTICS AND HISTORY.
This office is regarded by many as q
useless and merely ornamental adjunct
to the state government. But the pur-
pose of it, creation was both wise and
patriotic, and it should be maintained and
encouraged. States, like Individuals,
who rave no hing worthy ofremembrance,
have no need of the historian. Those
states which have accomplished little in
the past and with no ambition for the
future, have little use for the statistician.
Our state, however, has history which
il is proud to maintain before the world,
and the OBJECT has been 10 keep alive the
memory, the maXims and deathless eX-
ample of our illustrious sages and states
men who founded our government, and
TO furnish our youth the lessons of their
glorious battles and brilliant deeds
through which we received the inesti-
mable blessings we now enjoy, and to
stimulate those who follow like ambi-
ton for honorable name and fame.
In conjunction with the collation. and
preservation of the materials necessary
for history of our state worthy Of rec-
ord, it is proper there should be an ex-
hioitlon of its wonderful and unparalleled
growth which has followed the enter
prise OF our people in the development of
its great natural advantages, thus in
wiling the industrious emigrsnt to settle
among us, while, at the same time, we
encourage & pride of country in our cti-
zens, without which no people have ever
achieved lasting renOwn or greatness.
The existing law requires that the COM
missioner shall cause to be prepared, eacn
year, statistical report of the diver
silied interests of the state, by
counties, including population, area,
yield OF crops, value and price of
labor, etc. When there is a failure,
however, to make the necessary appro-
priations for the execution of these pro-
visions of law, as has been the case, the
commissioner can simply issue to the
several ASSESSORS of the state forms con-
tanning questions embracing the growth
and industry OF each county necessary to
enable him 10 furnish this record for The
Information Of the people. But as the
law prescrlbes no penalties for non-Com-
pliance on the part of assessors, the re-
suit has been, few Of them have paid any
attention to tnis requirement. To leave
the office in this shape, we can hardly ex-
peCt it to suhserve the useful purpose for |
which it was intended, and | respectfully |
suggest for your consideration |
whether or not it might be made to |
more fully meet the expectations of
the people, by establishing as part of |
its work, in addition to existing functions,
q more thorough development of the ag-
rlcultuTal feature, including horticulture
and forest culture. An agricultural bu-
reau, on liberal and comprehensive |
scale has been organized in nearly every
state except Texas. II is conceded by
AL biologists who have investigated the |
subject that if the proper normal meteoro- |
logical conditions could be restored to |
the prairie regions Of the state, compris- !
ing much the larger part of Its area, !
those comparatively unproductive and !
unfruitful regions would become as fer |
tile and as productive as any lands in the |
[ nited States. They agree also that |
these conditions can only be restored by |
the process of securing the growth of |
forests about these treeless plains. If it |
were possible to more effectually check |
the frequent and destructive fires which |
sweep over these regions, it is believed, |
from our observation of other parts of |
our state of similar character, that they
would, in course of years, become dense
ly timbered with native forest growth,
which would not only increase, but equal
ize the rainfall, so as to make the crop
failures from drouth almost unknown and |
greatly increase the productiveness of the
rich soil throughout the entire state.
STATE TROOPS AND MILITIA.
| respectfully refer you to the we'll
merited tribute paid by my predecessor
TO the efficient and substantial aid which
the citizen soldiery have been found so
ready to afford the executive in vindicat-
ing the majesty of the civil law. All
honor is due these gallant and faithful
officers and men, and to the wisdom and
of your bodies l commend
their Just claims.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Frequent changes in organic laws are
10 be deprecated and avoided, tending, as
they necessarily do, TO produce state of
unrest and apprehension in the public
mind, to beget a spirit of vassilatlon and
Of dissatisfaction on the part of the peo-
pie. But it should be remembered that
The advancement of community and its
development in wealth and population
produces q change of circumstances not
.Oreseen by those charged with the duty
If framing the constitutions of govern
nent. Aud these changes necessitate the
ldaption of the frame work of the gov
,rnment to new conditions with which
he law maker is confronted.
Our endeavor should be to act with
reasonable conservatism in this as in all
)ther matters of legislation, but ct the
same time we should not continue to toll
rate evils which have become almost in
simply to aVoid change or
o interfere with the designs of those for